Roberta (Bonnie) Zeeman

In loving Memory of Roberta "Bonnie" Zeeman

February 14, 1932 - June 7, 2025

Roberta "Bonnie" Zeeman, 93, of Sarasota, Florida, passed away peacefully surrounded by the family she cherished and nurtured throughout her long life.

Bonnie was born to Isadore and Ruth Cohen and raised in Woodmere, New York. She attended Syracuse University, where she met and married Alfred Friedlander. Following Al's completion of veterinary school, the couple settled in Torrington, Connecticut, where they raised their three daughters while Al built a thriving large animal practice. After Al's tragic passing at age 34, in a small plane crash, Bonnie found love again with Stanley Zeeman. Stan was a cardiologist and they had a wonderful life together with their many friends in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Both Al and Stan had cherished places in her heart, and each shaped different parts of her life story.

Bonnie was a lifelong athlete who, in her adult years, became a competitive tennis player and golfer. She had a vibrant spirit and a love for entertaining, traveling with Stan, and spending time with her children and grandchildren-often taking them along on the golf course, or spending time with them on the beach in Longboat Key.

Bonnie was cherished for her warmth, her quick wit, and her genuine interest in others. She had a remarkable gift for making everyone feel seen, heard, and loved-forming deep, lasting connections with everyone she met. At the heart of her life was family; she was its center, its steady presence, and its greatest joy.

More than anything, Bonnie's most precious gift was the unconditional love she gave so freely and generously. It was a love that lifted, comforted, humored and united her family-and it will remain with us always.

She is survived by her daughters Judy (John), Beth (Paul), and Deb; her stepdaughters Wendy (Dave) and Susan (Rodney); her sister Carole (Don), and sister-in-law Myra (Allen). She was a cherished grandmother to Jessica, Zachary, Alex, Anna, Isabel, Emily, Jack, Leah, Ben, and Ariel, and great-grandmother to Madison, Max, Leo, Eddie, Asher, Wyatt, Ayla, Ari, and Senya.

A private memorial service and celebration of life will be held by the family later this summer.